You need to communicate

As I shared in my previous post, I’ve left the comfortable nest at LHH Knightsbridge and struck out with my husband to start a new firm called 3COze Inc. The name 3COze comes from our mission statement: “we will radically transform the way people communicate, connect, and contribute so they can achieve amazing things together.”

So it seemed apt to have the next three posts focus on why communicating, connecting, and contributing became the cornerstones of this new organization. Today, I’m starting with communication.

Merriam-Webster traces the word “communicate” back to the Latin root communis, which means common. Ultimately, the goal of communication is to reach a common understanding. If you were to use that bar (common understanding) to evaluate whether you’ve communicated with someone or not, most times you’d find that you have failed.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.“ – George Bernard Shaw

I am amazed, perplexed, and saddened by the number of destructive conflicts I witness that are simply the result of poor communication.

What’s with all the poor communication?

There are many, many ways our communication is deteriorating. Which of these factors degrades the quality of your communication?

Do you over-estimate the power of your words as conduits of meaning?
You know in your head what you’re trying to say, but the words you choose fail to convey your intent.

Do you fail to appreciate how much your tone and body language are conveying and how those cues conflict with the words coming out of your mouth?
Your body language reflects your true emotions better than your words so don’t expect anyone to believe what you’re saying if it doesn’t jive with what you’re showing.

Are you so rushed that you blurt out your side of the story without making time for the back and forth that’s required to actually come to a common understanding (i.e., to communicate)?
Odds are, your point misses the mark if you only deliver it once.

Do you hear messages that are disturbing or upsetting and withhold your reaction for fear of wasting time, looking dumb, or starting an argument?
Instead, you worry, resent, or seethe without expressing it and therefore without hope of resolving it.

Do you share important information through a memo, email, or text message?
Regardless of the fact that ping-ponging back and forth six times is incredibly inefficient, even if it did work, it almost always leaves something lacking that reduces the quality of the communication.

How we’re tackling poor communication

I could go on and on but you get the point.

So when we founded 3COze, it was with the understanding that most of us are clumsy communicators. If we can help you master the skills of communication, you can open yourself to stronger connections with people, more opportunities to share what you have to offer, and get greater value from others in return. If we succeed, you’ll finally feel heard and understood.

That’s why the first CO in 3COze is communication.

You need to communicate